# NTSB CHI96LA081: Beech 58, N4108S, Yipsilanti, MI, January 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 24, 1996, 20:08 local (Jan 25, 1996, 01:08 UTC) - Place: Yipsilanti, MI - Coordinates: 42.279747, -83.589157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2797&lon=-83.5892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10190 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10190/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA081 ## Probable cause was the pilot not maintaining visual separation with the parked airplanes. A factor in this accident was the pilot's over- confidence in his personal ability to taxi onto the parking ramp with the snowfall he was encountering. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - aircraft parked/standing - unsafe/hazardous condition - encountered, pilot in command - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night ## Analysis The pilot was taxiing onto a parking ramp when his airplane collided with a parked airplane. The pilot said a hangar on the ramp's edge had 15 floodlights along its top edge, and a dark area on its middle section. He said the flood lights, his airplane's taxilight, and falling snow caused light reflection that made it difficult to see the parked airplane. He said the dark color of the airplane his airplane struck blended in with the hangar's dark area. An FAA PMI confirmed the pilot's statement about the floodlights and the fact that no taxiway or ramp markings were available. ## Factual narrative On January 24, 1996, at 2008 eastern standard time, a Beech 58 Baron, N4108S, operated by Welch Aviation, Incorporated, of Alpena, Michigan, and piloted by an airline transport rated pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a parked airplane as it taxied onto a parking ramp. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed Grand Rapids, Michigan, exact time unknown. The pilot said he taxied onto the airport's west ramp from taxiway "C." He said he turned his airplane 60 degrees to the left after taxiing onto the ramp. According to the pilot, his intention was to line up with his intended parking area next to the hangar's office area. The pilot said he did not see Learjet N44CP that his airplane collided with until it was too late to stop. He said the Learjet was parked directly in front of the hangar's office section that was not illuminated by the hangar lights. The hangar the pilot was taxiing toward had about 15 flood lights along its roof line which shine down on portions of the ramp. The hangar has four doors on either side of an office area. According to the pilot, these are doors to individual aircraft bays. Each door has windows across their front that are below the door's middle section. Airplanes parked in front of these doors were visible to the pilot. The office area is located in the middle of the hangar. The office area and adjacent ramp are not lighted. According to the pilot, the Learjet was a dark color and blended into the dark area on the hangar and ramp. The pilot of N4108S said the flood lights, falling snow, and the Learjet's position made it impossible to see the Learjet. The pilot said his airplane's taxi light was illuminated and caused light reflection off the falling snow. He said the flood lamps also caused light reflection with the falling snow. The pilot said there were no taxiway or ramp guidance lines to aid in taxiing and parking. A Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) confirmed the pilot's statement about hangar flood lights. He said the lights were about 40 feet above the ground. The PMI said there were no markings on the taxiway or ramp that could provide guidance to arriving and departing airplanes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4108S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4108S), registered now, S/N TH-605, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 58 - Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH-605 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C-7 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Welch Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 23, 1996, 4 hours before - Departed: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: YIP, Willow Run Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,900 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: YIP, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960124000919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960124000919A), Jan 24, 1996: Beech 58, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. Was taxiing to park and ran into a parked leak jet. (.4)the pilot was taxiing onto a parking ramp when his airplane collided with a parked airplane. The pilot… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.